India's 'season of scams'
All of this week, many Indians, long inured to corruption, have been asking the same question. A familiar "season of scams" has returned in a depressing re-run: the "mother of all scams", as the media never tires of describing a new one, is to do with telecoms, involving a senior minister who has resigned. In a damning report, federal auditors have accused Andimuthu Raja of underselling mobile phone "spectrum" licenses worth billions of dollars. Mr Raja denies the allegation and was feted by his supporters on his return to his native city of Chennai. The auditors believe the actions of his department could have cost India some $40bn in lost revenues.
As India has liberalised its economy and modernised, corruption has apparently spread to every area of life. Politicians and sports officials forged papers, bought stuff at inflated prices and generally cooked the books, it is alleged, in the run-up to the recently concluded Commonwealth Games. Retired senior army officers and relatives of senior politicians are accused of helping themselves to apartments meant for war widows in Mumbai. A building in Delhi collapses - killing more than 60 people - because municipal officials and police apparently looked the other way as the builder kept adding illegal floors. Two top teams of India's showpiece private cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, are expelled after they are accused of fudging their ownership and financial details. Political corruption is rife: in the current elections in Bihar, India's poorest and most backward state, more than a quarter of candidates from the main political parties, by their own admission, are millionaires.
Corruption in India is the main route to power and wealth. It possibly begins with the symbiotic relationship between the corruption of the poor and the corruption of the rich. One trades political power for money; the other trades money for political power. But in both cases, as an analyst says, "something public - a vote or an office or decision - is sold for private gain".
India has been talking about cracking down on corruption since independence, when the first anti-corruption law came into being. In 1964, a landmark report on corruption by a former minister spoke of the "growth of corruption" and the need to arrest the "deterioration in the standards of public life". Six decades after independence India ranks 87 on Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index, below Ghana and Rwanda.
The standards of public life have sunk - big business and politics enrich each other, and the judiciary and army is no longer free of taint. Many of India's politicians and civil servants and policemen are among the most corrupt in the world. Indians have wearily accepted graft as a fact of life - many of them believe that corrupt officials and policemen are the ones who perform most effectively as they work the system better. On a train journey many years ago, I heard a young fellow passenger loudly reassuring his friend's mother that her son's new appointment in a government office was good news because he would have abundant opportunities to "earn more than his wages". The old woman smiled wanly. When you live in a climate of corruption, it's easy to get corrupted.
Predictably, there is no dearth of institutions to check corruption in India. There's the federal investigative agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), also tasked with bringing corrupt bureaucrats, politicians and policemen to book. There's the federal vigilance commission, headed by an independent ombudsman. Government ministries have vigilance officers scrutinising contracts. States have anti-corruption bureaus manned by police officers. A landmark right to information law promises much in making government accountable. Yet the cancer continues to spread, eating into the vitals of Indian life and polity.
Even when some of the wrongdoers are brought to book, nothing much happens. India has a sorry record in prosecuting people for corruption. There are more than 9,000 cases brought by the CBI pending in various courts. More than 2,000 of these cases have been pending for more than a decade. A large number involve public servants and their aides and associates who have been caught with their hands in the till. Justice delayed means the corrupt go scot-free. When it comes to convictions, things are grimmer - India has a conviction rate of about 42%, which must be one of the lowest in the world. The wheels of justice grind so slowly that most victims give up.
When institutions fail or are subverted by their political masters, the time comes to wage an old-fashioned war against graft. This war has to be fought by the people. Right now, it's only a section of the media and a clutch of brave freedom of information whistle-blowers who are fighting the battle. India - especially the acquiescent middle-class India of empty Facebook rage - has to begin believing that it doesn't have to live with corruption. Fumiko Nagano of the World Bank says transforming social norms is the key to fighting corruption. Indians have to change - and fight much harder - to get rid of the scourge.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~46~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Corruption is a big problem in India and i agree that the only way to fight it is by changing social norms. Thanks for the article soutik.
That said i am pretty sure that the "scam scandals" are going to cause an unwanted political backlash in India. Right wing nationalist parties like the BJP are going to claim that they are cleaner than the Congress Party. I think politicians in India will be corrupt no matter who is in power. I hope people realize what soutik is saying and make an effort to change social norms as opposed to just voting in a different political party and assuming that all will be fixed.
Complain about this comment
Didn't you mean India's 'seasons of apparently endless scams'?
The erudite Mr Moily is certainly correct when he says corruption destroys societies...but might I add, first corruption eats the society inside and out and then leaves the stinking carcass to rot.
As India has grown in sophistication, modernization, and expanded economically, corruption has kept pace. This tells me that in India, graft & corruption are a part of the way of life - just like breathing and eating.
Key statement # 1: Corruption in India is the main route to power and wealth.
Key Statement # 2: Six decades after independence India ranks 87 on Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index, below Ghana and Rwanda. This tells me that whatever India is doing about corruption, it is not working.
Key Statement # 3: Indians have wearily accepted graft as a fact of life - many of them believe that corrupt officials and policemen are the ones who perform most effectively as they work the system better.
Key statement # 4: Even when some of the wrongdoers are brought to book, nothing much happens.
A country is not truly evolved, not truly modern as long as it is not transparent. India scores very poorly on transparency, while the economies of Switzerland, Sweden and Singapore are graded the highest.
Corruption is perceived as the third worst factor for preventing new business in India.
So, how to change the environment of corruption:
1. Regulatory systems have to be clean and simple. Convolution leads to a lack of transparency. The greater the regulation, greater the bureaucracy, the greater the opportunity for corruption.
2. In Singapore, the government, faced with escalating corruption, created an independent body with its own funding. This body was charged with investigating corruption. It removed @ 110 police officers in just a few weeks. You can bet that got public notice!
3. The rules must be clear and well-posted. i.e. The availability of information can be an effective tool in fighting corruption because the common folk come to know what is craft and what is normal.
4. The penalties must be clear and well-posted. Corrupt officials must be caught, fined much moola and/or spend significant time in prison. None of this suspension stuff.
For this to happen the Judicial System must be on board. The Judicial System should take no longer than one year to hear the case, preferably six months. These cases deserve public "display".
Both # 3 and # 4 above are attempting to explain that one of the most effective ways to fight corruption is by building awareness. Ensuring people’s awareness about their rights is an effective way of discouraging corruption.
In India unfortunately, a big part of the existing corruption is a legacy of the licence regime that existed before; but the new entrepreneurs are following the rules and know that if you intend to compete globally than you must also follow the rules.
My last suggestion is to make corruption - not clever or acceptable, not something for bragging rights - but a shameful, disagraceful, degrading act.
Complain about this comment
Corruption is the actual bread and butter of a politician in India who bribes his way by promising the moon and next to impossible promises,gives liquor and money for votes and when in power gets bribed by Businessmen to give away public money and national resources for a pittance knowing no matter how hard he is prosecuted will not get deterring punishment and knows will not lose the money he looted in Bribe.So every kind of Inhuman
injustice can be done and the innocent,helpless victims will suffer and politicians will keep on winning elections and injustice will go on forever
in newer forms.
Complain about this comment
I can feel Mr. Biswas's frustration and outrage in his article. He is absolutely right in what he has written. The sheer scale of public graft, and the multiple levels at which it is committed, simply staggers the mind. I could argue that the shamelessness has reached comic proportions, if the consequences were not so tragic.
Just listen to former minister Mr. Raja's calm statements (on the 2G spectrum sale) to the effect that he has actually served the country by eliminating monopolies, lowering tariffs, and raising growth of cellular usage. This brazen attitude is galling. When I heard him making this statement with all seriousness, I laughed and cried at the same time. I felt helpless on seeing my country looted in this shameless way. Hysteria was my only solace.
It would be nice to be able to come up with a solution that works and eliminates corruption from the Indian polity. Sadly, I don't believe that there is any single solution. There is just a process that has to be followed, and perhaps education is the key. I do not know. Indians tolerate corruption because we have to "get things done". It is not just the bribe-taker who is to blame, or the size of the bribe that is important. The bribe-giver is to be blamed too. I can believe that most Indians do not take bribes and live honestly. But how many of us can actually claim with all honesty that we have never given a bribe? I cannot make this claim myself. So I too am corrupt even if I only paid a bribe to get my phone repaired (back in the 1980s). I simply made a promise that I would never do it again. So far so good, it has worked. But can I keep that promise? I am not sure, although I would like to.
I think about how we Indian's love to trumpet out past and our great religions, quoting verse and chapter from the Bhagvad Gita. Yet when it comes to that simple philosophy of "doing our duty without concern for its fruits or rewards" we fail. We are so good at talking. We can't walk that talk. Now, we face a systemic problem. I already hear stories about the rise of thuggery and murder for the sake of property, personal or industrial and I can understand why people become Naxalites or Maoists. I can also understand why Kashmir wants to be free of us. The Indian administration is viewed by all alike as being uniformly corrupt. And in this process, even those who are incorruptible (Mr. Manmohan Singh, for example) also become corrupt. The lack of just action, inaction, is a form of corruption too.
Sadly, nowhere in the world is corruption as pervasive or as ugly as it is in India. And more sadly, it is the poor who get hurt the most. So, we just have to change ourselves one by one, expose those who loot public wealth, and never say surrender in this fight. Maybe one day we will be free of corruption. Therefore, Mr. Biswas must keep writing even though it has been written before, and even though it will be written yet again.
Complain about this comment
Indians are too busy earning a living. There is also a risk to your life if you take on the politicians. The only solution to at least limit corruption is a powerful, independent and non-corrupt media. Indian newspapers and electronic media are too busy covering bollywood and cricket. Many media channels get bribes from politicians. We need many more media channels so that bribing everyone becomes difficult and they compete against each other by uncovering scandals.
Complain about this comment
Please will someone show the path as to fight corruption at grass-root level instead of just plain discussions !!!
Complain about this comment
I am currently working in Indonesia, which is even lower on the Transparency Index. You could very easily transpose Indonesia for India in your text. You are so right that it starts with the people, but it is so easy to apathetically consider that one's own contribution in the fight is such a minuscule drop in the bucket that it isn't worth the effort.
Complain about this comment
We should be asking ourselves what is the psyche behind it and address that. 'Settling' ones progeny is a valid path to moksh. It's not individual greed, the money is used to benefit ones family, relatives. Everyone, almost everyone, does it here. It's not just the bad, naughty politicians.
Complain about this comment
For us in Tamil Nadu, we are more concerned on Free TV, 1Re/kg rice, free mobile, Free pumpset for farmer, free electricity, and there is a storng roumer that they are going to give free grinder next term for which we are waiting.. haha.. this is what people are worried in different parts of the country. And Corruption is in our blood, we cannot do anything about it. Not only politicians, everybody are corrupt and we are pointing out politicians because they get a bigger share. May be we are jealous.
Complain about this comment
#6, nandakumar: Please will someone show the path as to fight corruption at grass-root level instead of just plain discussions !!!
It starts with YOU. Dont pay the small amount to that tout who promises to "smoothen" the road, whether it's a driver's licence, kindargarten promising entry to the best school for yout kids, whatever.
It's not easy.
Complain about this comment
As a citizen & a practising lawyer of High Court, I feel there should be more coverage of BBC on recent scams in India. 2G Spectrum scam perhaps
the biggest ever scam is South Asia.
Complain about this comment
Corruption is India's cancer. A rotting tumour dedicated to vices of those in power. Starting all the way from a simple peon in the government utilities department to union ministers with cabinet berths, this malady is endemic.
It kills and maims people, deprives others of their livelihood, decreases the quality of life, hurts the country's global competitiveness besides widening the gulf between the rich and poor. It also creates a class of A***head politicians who think they can get away with anything (and sadly, they do). Why do we as a nation still tolerate it? To say that we as the public are as guilty as those who we accuse would be too simplistic a viewpoint. Sure we do our bit in contributing to the entire mess by being complicit in the process, but those who've experienced Indian bureaucracy for themselves will know that there are occasions where a bribe is basically not just the easiest way to get things done, it's the only way. Idealism just doesn’t work in the real world. I have on many occasions refused to pay a bribe and willing suffered the consequences, but there are times when doing so doesn’t work. In fact you might end paying more bribes instead of less.
I feel dirtied when I pay a bribe for something that is my right as a citizen of this nation. I feel outraged when somebody dies because of bad roads, but until now there wasn't much I could do. However things are changing recently (paradoxical as it might sound given that these scams are growing in size), the reason being the introduction of E-governance. While this will still not address the issue of graft in the highest echelons of the government, it has the scope to remove or greatly reduce corruption at the lower levels. It is obviously a process still in its infancy and we have a long way to go before we implement it in all aspects of bureaucratic functioning but I have already benefited from its implementation in processes like getting a passport and paying my taxes. The key is to remove the middlemen (the bureaucrats) completely. As long as these parasites are in charge of getting things done, people will continue to suffer their excesses.
Grassroots e-governance which is omnipresent is the first step to eradicating this loathsome practice. Progressing further, we need to implement a performance review system not unlike those practiced by many corporates for our elected representatives. Annually appraising their performance and removing them from power if they fail to pull up their socks (easier said than done, but nobody said this was going to be a cakewalk). It might be a cumbersome and expensive process to re-elect governing representatives on a short notice, but it will be more efficient and cheaper in the long run than allowing cretins to continue looting us.
The RTI which was intended to be used a tool against graft today is sadly being mired in more insidious bureaucracy. The solution would be to make this too a process connected to the internet instead of having bigoted officials stalling it. Whistleblowers should be lavishly rewarded and protected while those found guilty must face harsh punishments including permanently barring them from ever holding a position of authority as well as rendering them destitute (death penalties could be a good idea too except it doesn’t seem to work if we observe trends in China).
More than anything else we need a government with cahoones to implement these measures, and that more than anything else will be the biggest challenge to eradicating graft.
Complain about this comment
Corrupt practices government institutions and leaders will be demise of freedoms of Indian citizens. If nothing is done quickly.
Complain about this comment
Please read the Articles published by Sri Aurobindo in
New Lamps for Old - Indu Prakash Articles
Which clearly explain the true colours of the Indian National Congress. Below are few lines taken from the first article publish..
"IF THE blind lead the blind, shall they not both fall into a ditch? So or nearly so runs an apophthegm of the Galilean prophet, whose name has run over the four quarters of the globe. Of all those pithy comments on human life, which more than anything else made his teaching effective, this is perhaps the one which goes home deepest and admits of the most frequent use. But very few Indians will be found to admit—certainly I myself two years ago would not have admitted,—that it can truthfully be applied to the National Congress. Yet that it can be so applied,—nay, that no judicious mind can honestly pronounce any other verdict on its action,—is the first thing I must prove, if these articles are to have any raison d'être. I am quite aware that in doing this my motive and my prudence may be called into question. I am not ignorant that I am about to censure a body which to many of my countrymen seems the mightiest outcome of our new national life; to some a precious urn in which are guarded our brightest and noblest hopes; to others a guiding star which shall lead us through the encircling gloom to a far distant paradise: and if I were not fully confident that this fixed idea of ours is a snare and a delusion, likely to have the most pernicious effects, I should simply have suppressed my own doubts and remained silent. As it is, I am fully confident, and even hope to bring over one or two of my countrymen to my own way of thinking, or, if that be not possible, at any rate to induce them to think a little more deeply than they have done".
No one in the National Congress had a proper goal and agenda and the same party is ruling India for such a long time and only one family is responsible for the then Congress and the Congress now. Its one and only agenda is influence and get influenced by people either by corruption or by threat. The article by Sri Aurobindo on Congress and Indian freedom moment were abolished by threatining the publishers and no one can get those articles on internet too.
A poltical party rather I can call it a family runned power party before and after independence with corruption can do anything. The first thing is National congress should be dissolved in India infact all the National and regional parties should be dissolved and the youth of India should be called for to form a new political party and frame new rules to the Indian Politices,
1. There should not be more than 2 political parties in the National and regional level.
2.No MP, MLA, MLC should be re-elected to the respective houses.
3.The upper age limit should be restricted to 50 years.
4. An Individual should have a minmum education qualification of Graduation from University.
Politician, government official caught taking bribe are charged with criminal offence and sentenced for life time imprisionment also the individual who tries to bride.
Government should publish annual reports on revenue generting sources and where they are spendng. Just like how the corporates publish their Profit and Loss accounts.
Education should be given importance and not commercialisation of education. Government schools with good facilities and proper teaching staff should be employeed.
Every state government and the local body government should be made responsible for educating the childern in their constituency.
If all the above are taken care we can put a stop to corruption in India and we can see Corruption free India.
As per latest reports India has been drained of $462 billion (Rs 20,556,848,000,000 or over Rs 20 lakh crore) between 1948 and 2008.
Read more: Black money trail: 'India drained of Rs 20 lakh crore during 1948-2008' - The Times of India
Complain about this comment
Sautik, good thing, finally you are writting something that might help the people.
It is very naive to expect a poverty striken country to have a culture of honesty and transparency. It takes time to abolish poverty to remove the advantage of corruption. Basically its an endless cycle. Merely blaming politicians will not help. The current process of highlighting the issues and rectifying when they occur is the right course.
Chavhan, Kalmadi, Raja have all been fired i dont think any one will be jailed but if what they had done has been reversed like bringing down Adarsh builiding, revoking 2G licences and recovery of money from the officials who helped in CWG scam, the people coming after them are then less reluctant to do a scam that easily. Also no TELCO companies or other companies will not take unnecessary risks like buying something which is not 100% correct.
At the end of the day, its a process which if implemented will clean corruption out, although not completly but definitely to a larger extent.
Bofors scam brought down Congress and till this date it has not been able to get the 2/3 majority, it so easily got. Today Congress is very sensitive of its image and that's the reason 3 people are fired, so keep the pressure up !!!
Complain about this comment
Well much as I love India and have been there on business on many occasions I have to say there is little chance of success unless they start with the police. Whilst you still have an apparant apparatus of "law and order" which is for most citizens in India a law unto itself then there will be zero credibility and chance of success. Every ex pat and most Indians in Delhi will tell you if you get burgled the one thing you don't do is call the police. Redress via the courts is impossible except for the wealthy or well connected. It takes far too long and resources far beyond that of all bar a minority.
India may be a democracy but at its most fundamental level,an equality of all under the law, it doesn't in practice operate like one.
Complain about this comment
To begin removing corruption from Indian Education enable capable parents to look after school education of their kids. It will cost not one paisa to tax payers. Remove regulations of British times. For details go to www.dmjoshi.org
Complain about this comment
Mr Biswas is ignoring the obvious, the corruption in India is The Congress Party starting from the top to the bottom. Congress has ruled India for most of its 63 years of independence, corruption is endemic and Congress Party are at the root of this. A report by Global Financial Integrity says that India has lost $460bn since independence to corruption. Yet the Congress party will not investigate this.
The only way to rid India of corruption is to rid India of The Congress Party.
Complain about this comment
All the hopes we got during NDA’s tenure are all vanished. Same old pessimism (as in 80s) and all round corruption (as Indira Gandhi sowed the seed for) is ruining the country from inside out. I do not see any hope for India in any field of life, in near future at least. No sane, able leader is in sight to guide the country in this difficult time. Probably we have no other option but to rely on the ruling dacoits to stop thefts, at least those thefts done by "others" (like Raja of DMK) or opposition parties.
Complain about this comment
The most relaxed environment on this planet is the Indian government (both state and central) offices, where no one is accountable for anything. In India anything to do with government is always complicated, the authorities won’t make things simple, where possible they make it as much complicated as possible.
Below some samples experienced by a common man in this corrupt country.
Driving license: I really don’t know anyone in India who got their driving license without bribing, no matter even if you are an expert driver.
If you need a new ration card you need to pay bribe.
If you buy a land you need to pay bribe to register otherwise things becomes more complicated, even if you are not breaking any law.
If you want build a house, you have to pay bribe for planning permission.
If there is already an approved plan for the land you bought and if you want to change it to your name you have to pay bribe otherwise they will come with some clause and make your life hell.
After the tsunami it has become more difficult for people living near riverside to get planning permission even if there is no risk of flooding. You have to pay more to get a plan approved.
Once the house is built, you need to pay bribe to get electricity connection, gas connection, water connection, sewage connection otherwise nothing will get done.
Many authorities gets away without being caught because all the issues I mentioned above only happens to a common man who is helpless.
People tend to pay bribes and get things done otherwise you should be a powerful man.
In India just a phone call is enough if you are powerful man and the authorities will bring everything you need to your home, where as a common man needs to pay bribe. If you pay less it’s an insult and you end up paying double than the normal bribe to get anything done, this is to prove you, who's in charge.
It is really a shame in India we got lots of resources in IT but the government departments are not computerized. In my opinion all government departments should be computerized. Any communications should be only by email, so that a higher authority including politicians cannot order by phone and get things done.
Anything to do with ordinary citizens should be made simple.
Everyone should be made aware of their rights and escalation procedures.
Where possible people shouldn’t be marching to government offices for everything, instead there should be facilities to get most things done over the phone or online.
A proper helpline/online for anything to do with central/ state govt will be helpful.
Indians living in USA and UK knows what their rights are in terms of planning permission or other common things to do with government. The same people when they come to India that's not the case no matter how educated you are things are not simple.
When an educated citizen in India doesn’t know how to get things done without paying bribe, what can a poor common man be able to do with corruption?
Complain about this comment
The main deterrent against any corruption is the sense of social shame. If a person is involved in any corrupt activity and if that activity comes to light, s/he must be feeling ashamed and humiliated. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOO, TO MAKE HIM/HER FEEL THAT WAY. No law can do that. India has lost that internal, social control mechanism against corruption or unethical issues. It seems that only the insane, “impractical” people talk about corruption these days in our incredible India. Everyone, including those who work in educational and research institutions (I have severe reservation to call them “scientists”) has accepted that as an integral part of life. Unless we bring back the social shame factor in OUR day-to-day lives, I do not see any future for Indian society. Politics is nothimng but a reflection of our own selves and society.
Complain about this comment
@Jay and others - You are right when you say that Indians need to bring back a sense of social shame to curb corruption. So, do you think Indians have essentially become shameless people? Or is it a function of a hierarchical and feudal society with acts of bruality and wrong doing have been committed with no shame over centuries? Is it because we are an essentially exploitative society, we are shameless and more prone to corruption? Would love to listen to all your views.
Complain about this comment
<RICHPOST> Dear Dr Joshi (#17). Education and research just reflect society. "Scientists" and teachers are coming from the same population; with same morality and value system that supplies lawyers, police, politicians, doctors etc. You can never have a corruption-free education so long your society not only support but encourage corruption. Just check the condition of Indian higher education and research institutes. Those are full of corruptions, starting from VC/director appointment to petty clerks. Selection of any foreign bound fellowships (e.g. Nehru-Cambridge fellowship, Fulbright, Rhodes, Felix, DAAD etc.) or even national awards (e.g Bhatnagar award) are done on highly corrupt and non-transparent way. For detail you one can check some excellent posts in <a href="http://network.nature.com/groups/natureindia/forum/topics discussion forum"> Nature India </a>. <BR />In reality, Indian upper and middle class people are too obsessed with so-called higher education (and research). It is one of the main stumbling blocks for any meaningful educational reform that allow any secular democracy to function. For detail you can go through my blog [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]“Primary and secondary education reform should be India's top priority”</a> . </RICHPOST>
Complain about this comment
That sense of “justice” and “education” start when a kid is not even born, in the womb (as per neurobiological studies). The major part of education starts taking shape within first 3-5 years of anyone’s childhood. The major personality traits (alcoholism, wife beating, sense of “religion” etc) and value system is developed within first few years of one’s life. So when a kid is growing up with parents who takes bribe, disrespect women, break laws with impunity, support or tolerate all sorts of corruptions; then it is useless to teach that kid, “never tell lies” and all such stupid, nonsense ideas and expect him/her to have a honest, “educated” life. They can have degrees but no “education”. I can send my kids to any best universities in the world, I may be able to purchase any heavy-weight degree but I can NEVER make my kid honest and with a strong backbone to dare opposing corruption. We can not grow mango in a tamarind tree! That’s why we see so many professionally established Indians abroad, who do not know what “justice” means, what honesty looks like!
Complain about this comment
Good write-up. Thank you!
Corruption in India is a national shame. An Indian friend of mine recently noted that bribes are so mainstream among the government officers that the definition of an 'honest officer' has evolved to keep up with the times. Now a days, an officer in India is considered "honest" if he takes the bribe and does the job. Conversely, a "dishonest" officer is one who takes the bribe and still doesn't deliver!
I think India should follow China's lead on this matter. Penalty for graft in China is swift and severe. Death sentence is routine for big profile cases. Given the state of affairs in India, unless a dread is created for both the 'bribee' and the 'briber', things ain't gonna change any time soon. I say, let India start with the scammers who embarrassed the nation over CWG preparations. Make an example of them. And then go down the line. Next stop: The entrenched IAS/IPS fraternity. I bet you can't throw a stone in any direction in India without hitting a thieving member of this 'criminal tribe' (as the colonials would have called them).
Complain about this comment
Corruption is not just immediate and illegal loss of funds, it also has a far larger impact. One may want to read "Rule of Law – Hidden Wealth of Nations"
http://www.ioptsyn.com/Rule%20of%20Law.pdf
Complain about this comment
Dear Ananya78 (#22). You have raised very important Qs.
No, Indians are not any unique creature and also not shameless people, as compared to any other people in the world. Yes, it is it a "function of a hierarchical and feudal society with acts of brutality and wrong doing have been committed with no shame over centuries". Yes that is right explanation to me.
Even today, Indian society is a very hierarchical, feudal society . We want to enjoy the fruits of modern science/technology and at the same time highly determined to enjoy our feudal life-style. That's exactly the reason for many Indians (from affluent/ruling class mainly) like to go back to India. They do not like to be "equal" and need to wash their own dirty laundries themselves (while living in EU/US).
You are again right when you say, "Is it because we are an essentially exploitative society, we are shameless and more prone to corruption"?
If you analyze the current social conditions of any country with substantial colonial past and/or massive foreign invasion for long, you will understand two issues.
1 . There will be very high level of corruption; hierarchical, feudal society; high level of crimes against children and women (weaker section of the society); incompetent political leadership (just think about India) in those countries which had extended colonial rule of foreign invasion and where rulers/invaders did not mix (with local population) and only exploited natural and human resources of that land.
2. The situation in few other areas like Australia and Canada, where colonial masters completely sidelined local population and established a de-facto home-land for themselves. They are more "developed" with less corruption in public lives.
Do not think about British only, in case of India. Muslim invaders were no less harmful to change our (Indian) ways of life.
In the first case, invaders/colonial masters introduced totally different set of laws. E.g.- In case of India, British introduced a law that allow even lower ranking police officials to cary fire arms, while they did not do so in their own land. They always, deliberately, kept loopholes in laws that can enable their own people to evade punishment while natives, non-loyal subjects will get severe punishment for doing the same crime.
Common people always try to imitate the rulers to become "elite", in any society. So, it is not so surprising that Indian elites did/do not find it strange (humiliating?) to wear warm suits in Indian condition, even during summer (with 40C temp, 90% humidity)! The same is true for celebrations of festivals like Diwali. Kings, emperors used to enjoy as and when THEY feel right. They did not ask anyone else if their enjoyment is creating any problem for others. So blocking roads for marriage, bursting noisy fire crackers late at night, throwing currency notes at parties and even during a personal road procession became a status symbol for Indian "elites". They never feel (even now) ashamed for such barbaric/feudal and stupid acts. It became our “culture”. Poor people also started feeling the pressure to follow suit, to become “elites” within their own community. And as our education did/do not teach us honesty, logical thinking, sympathy; we get used to and insensitive to such “culture” of discrimination. We know that only rulers are allowed to break laws, take “extra” money for the power they enjoy! So we now break laws to feel the pride of becoming a de-facto “ruler” class (may be for just a short time).
When I break a law, it’s a matter of pride, when someone breaks the same laws and I am at the receiving end, then I blame the “system”! Our history made us like that. Now it is high time to break that chain and come out strongly, at personal level at least to admit what we are and what we need to achieve to make India a better country (for all).
Complain about this comment
Correction for my post #27.
There will be very high level of corruption; hierarchical, feudal society; high level of crimes against children and women (weaker section of the society); incompetent political leadership (just think about India) in those countries which had extended colonial rule OR foreign invasion(s) and where rulers/invaders did not mix (with local population). They only exploited natural and human resources of that land. Example of such countries are plenty; mainly in Asia and Africa.
Complain about this comment
Majority of "successful" Indian companies ACTIVELY support and promote corruption. It is not a mere coincidence that "MOST SUCCESSFUL" company like Reliance is part of this 2G loot, in guise of Etisalat (also known as Swan Telecom: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/trai-asks-govt-to-cancel-62-licences-to-5-firms/713164/) as many news reports and Controller and Auditor General of India (CAG) indicated.
In fact, rise of a company like Reliance is a good indicator of our national situation, so far crime and corruption is concerned. But many of Indian policy makers and so-called "intellectuals" do not find it disgusting and humiliating to share both money, fame and propaganda dais with such people. Many of them got coveted national and state level awards, promoted by equally corrupt bureaucrats and politicians.
It takes guts and proper education to admit that an ex-minister asked for 15 crores (150 million) rupees bribe from Tata group chairman, Ratan Tata to grant license for its aviation business (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/minister-wanted-rs-15cr-bribe-for-aviation-permit-tata/711610/). We are losing people like Tata and businesses like Tata group fast.
Current Indian society can not support and groom honest people any more. It has a huge implications on almost every front of life there, starting from science/research, industry and entrepreneurship, social unrest and political bankruptcy and vacuum of leadership (as we see today).
Complain about this comment
There is a real possibility that movers and shakers of Indian politics, particularly the ruling coalition/party is involved in this scam. A Raja episode is just the trailer of the film.
Prime minister's office (PMO) is yet to respond to Supreme Court's summon on why PMO took so long to act against concerned minister, A Raja (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/put-the-pms-stand-on-record-sc/713168/ ). And then indication that Congress party will adjourn current session of Parliament indefinitely (sine-die) than to agree on a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) investigation where opposition parties will have their representations (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Congress-may-cut-short-winter-session-to-duck-opposition-demand-for-JPC/articleshow/6950105.cms).
Complain about this comment
Union is strength. If a group of people in a neighbourhood, who have to deal with government departments where most of the corruption takes place, come together and solemnly affirm that none of them will ever give a bribe, even if it means delay in getting results, it won't be long before that area becomes, if not totally, at least to some extent corruption-free. We need to make that much sacrifice, of time and convenience, to win a clean, duty-conscious bureaucracy. At least our children and grandchildren will reap the benefit of our current patience and inconvenience."Where there's a will there's a way."
Complain about this comment
9. At 08:47am on 18 Nov 2010, Prasad wrote:
-------------------------------------------------
I cannot agree more.
Complain about this comment
@injun_nc (Comment no. 25), your friend got the whole scene absolutely right!:)
http://www.facebook.com/culturewiseindia
Complain about this comment
99% of Indian's have bribed at some point or other to get the job done however small or however big.
Complain about this comment
actually people wants corrupted neta
many new generations are joining politics for wish list for themself
sanjay goyal
Ethiopia
Complain about this comment
In my opinion the government offices that accept bribes are brothels and the employee who takes bribes are prostitutes. I also think about the honest employees who do not want to take bribe but couldn’t do anything about it because of their superiors, who are corrupt. There are many people when they join the government offices will not accept the bribe and fellow employees encouraging them saying, ‘first few weeks it will be difficult and then you will get used to it', and this to me is like forcing or encouraging a person to become a prostitute.
I also have great respect to all the government employees who really work hard and won’t take any bribe.
Complain about this comment
india is not really a democracy. ask yourself this question: is the prime minister of india, mm singh, an elected person for the office of prime minister? the answer is no. it does not faze the gandhis to rule india by their vast network of appointees in the same style, for all practical purposes, the british colonialists ruled india by appointing residents and governors all over. worse, the gandhis can rule and yet not have responsibility. thus, not only indian pm is an appointee, most states have their chief ministers as appointee too. imagine the american democracy with obama as an appointee and governors of its various states as appointees by a kennedy family or a bush family!!!!!!! gandhis make sure that no popular leaders ever get to the power because a popular person in power would be a threat to them.
the only hope for india is the chief minister of gujarat, the one and only mr. narendra modi, who has a remarkable uncanny reputation for being a wonderful development-minister - and, boy, has he developed that state! - and an incorruptible leader at that. and yet, the gandhis in new delhi keep harrassing him, letting loose all sorts of central govt's investigating agencies on him, foisting trumped up charges against him over years which they can not prove, in an attempt to keep him tied up in legal wranglings. as if that is not enough the indian english media keeps barking at him all the time. and yet mr. modi finds time to do good by his people that nobody in indian history has been able to. in the corrupt india, which shamelessly boasts on its mahatma gandhi, the people most harassed are the ones who want to stay away from corruption. the corruption drama of this congress government, run absentee by the gandhis, that we now see is just the tip of the iceberg. it is now well known that a large amount of unaccounted inidan money is sitting in swiss banks, which the congress govt won't act on despite swiss govt and banks getting nervous over it. there is no end to congressi corruption and misrule. and yet the world thinks mmsingh to be some hero, and inida is on the march to some utopia. i suspect the hindu people have a knack for putting up with the worst and yet make a path of peaceful progress for themselves.
Complain about this comment
There was an ex-CBI joint director, (most probably, Atanu Sen or Upen Bisaws who was the initial CBI investigator against Laloo Yadav for fodder scam and were able to put him behind bars for few days at aleast). According to him, change in only one law will make a huge difference in corruption in public lives in India. He suggested to abolish "official secrets act" that prohibit government officials to open their mouth (without prior permission from concerned higher authority/ies). That is a major reason why the few remaining honest government officials do not dare to come forward, particularly against their own departmental corruption. Since then many panels suggested that (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Scrap-Official-Secrets-Act-Reforms-panel/articleshow/1635883.cms).
But as usual our politicians, bureaucrats and business people do not like any change in our current set up. They are habituated to catch fishes in muddy water; they do not like to clean it.
The spread of extremist violence (mainly naxals), increasing tendency of common people to take laws into their own hands are some of the examples we will face in near future with higher intensity and with bigger impact on everyone in the country.
Complain about this comment
The least we can do:
1. Make those openly corrupt people HUMILIATED in social gatherings, in front of everyone else. Online social networking websites can also be used for the same purpose.
2. Report those departmental corruption (with specific detail)in open forums, newspapers and other media; as anonymous or with a different, non-specific identity.
3. Be logical and concentrate on reality than "image" (for the country or state or religion or anything that you feel important).
Complain about this comment
Well, instead of cribbing about corruption, here are some real ideas that I think - on how to clean up the "political" system.
1. Political System clean-up - Political corruption starts when candidates pay money to political parties to fix their candidature. So there is a "competition" for winning the nomination resulting into massive corruption. It is a no-brainer that once a person has paid hughe money to ensure the nomination, he will make sure he recovers the money and also gathers money for fighting the next election by means of corruption.
So I propose a new system of selecting candidates who are eligible for nomination to any particular constituency as
a) Each Political Party should be asked to nominate a committe of 5 respected people. This comittee will invite applications from each constituency and anybody from the constituency should be eligible to apply with a token application fee (to cover the costs of selection).
b) The committees should shortlist candidates to around 3 people and hold a ballot to determine which candidate should be eligible to stand for election. The person with the most votes wins the nomination.
c) THe above process should be completed 6 months in advance of the actual election dates. During these 6 months, CBI or any investigative agency should investigate the candidate for any wrong doings and highlight the same 3 months before the actual election date. THis will ensure that people are aware of the "past record" of the candidates before the vote.
c) If an elected candidate wants to stand again for the election, he can be nominated by the party "along with other 3 potential candidates" as in step b). THis will ensure that people can re-nominate their candidate - if he has performed well - OR select a new candidate.
THe above process and costs for the same can be streamlined and easily estimated by the election commission. Advanced Technologies will go a long way to smoothen the process.
Benefits - a) Ordinary people who have a clean record and have done something for the society will get a chance to participate as candidates and they will carry the support of the political parties once they are "nominated by the people". b) Since the people will ultimately select the candidate who is eligible for nomination in the election, there will be no question of any corruption - since the final selection of the candidate will NOT BE KNOWN UNTILL THE LAST MOMENT.
So once the political process is cleaned-up to a certain extent, the next step is to free the investigation agencies from the clutches of the politicians as
2) Investigative Agency Clean-up :: Currently, the investigative agencies are under the control of the politicians and they are being used by all the political parties to black-mail one another. THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY WE DO NOT SEE ANY SCANDAL BEING TAKEN TO ITS LOGICAL CONCLUSION AND VERY FEW POLITICIANS ARE EVER PROSECUTED. Hence to free up the Investigative agencies, I suggest -
a) CBI should be made an independent agency like the Election Commission and it should report only to the Supreme Court.
b. Only the Supreme court should have the authority to appoint / dismiss the CBI officials
c. CBI personnel should be recrutied only by a panel appointed by the Supreme Court.
d. Tenure of the CBI director and top officials should be fixed for 5 years. Further selection / continuation of the CBI director and top officials should be confirmed only by the Supreme Court and the CVC.
e. The CBI budget should be financed as a fixed %age of India's tax revenues.
This will free the CBI from the clutches / interference of the politicians and they will be able to perform without fear. Once free, CBI will not spare any efforts to nail the corrupt politicans / beareaucrats.
I know the politicans will never pass a law to allow this to happen. So the Worker Unions (Banks / Railways / Airports) should go on an indefinite strike to force the politicans to take these steps. In effect, we need to "bring this country to a halt" until the politicians pass such a law. This 21st version of Gandhiji's "civil disobedience" movement is desparately needed to protect our children's future.
IF WE DONT TAKE GANDHIJI's CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE APPROACH TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, THEN there is a high possibility that our children will take the "guns and bullets" approach.
So my appeal to all the worker Unions of India - Can you please help all of India in this noble effort and protect our children's future?
Regards,
Vinay Chitnis - [Personal details removed by Moderator]
Complain about this comment
How may times since Independence have BIG INDUSTRIAL HOUSES actually launched FIR / reported to investigative agencies about bribes demanded by the politicans and beareucrats? I don't recollect any. BIG INDUSTRIAL HOUSES ONLY SEEM TO COMPLAIN ABOUT CORRUPTION BUT DO NOTHING TO STOP IT.
SO if BIG INDUSTRIAL HOUSES (who have the resources to launch FIR / reports and fight against corruption) "hesitate in being on the wrong side of the government", what hope does an ordinary citizen have to fight corruption on his own?
Complain about this comment
We Indians have lost all sense of shame in our public lives. Stealing from public coffers is no longer considered unethical, let alone illegal. Indeed one is almost ridiculed for letting underhanded money making opportunities pass by.
What fascinates me most is that there is no uprising and actionable outrage against such behavior. It is part of our laissez faire ("This is India - Chalta Hai!") attitude. How can a country aspire to become a global power when the nation comes a distant second after individual greed? A nation of thieves (sorry, public servants) elected by an indifferent people, with a singular focus on hollowing out the country even further.
For God's sake, let us empower ourselves to rise and speak out against rampant corruption - bring the shame back; it is our common wealth after all. Surely we would not stand aside and watch indifferently if our own homes were being ransacked by bandits! Or maybe we would ...
Complain about this comment
Our Government and Judiciory accepts that there is high level curruptions in all departments including law, defence, taxation and there is no actions in all these 6 decades. Why the governments cannot take appropriate action to nail it down from the bottom stages with stern punishments, removal from the job, forfeiture of properties etc., from those who became reasons for it. I know many people, in various government departmnets, who hardly earns 50000 to one lac as salary, but have flats worth crores as well properties in various parts of country. As well deposits. The taxation dept., harasses the tax payers and forcing them to pay bribe to the officers with threates of actions and CA's are working as brokers to ITO's. When refused to pay, they keep writing unwanted comments in the files and spoils the tax payers file for ever. Where as big turnover makers walks free, with out paying taxes as ITO's scare of the others reaches.
Why they government is not taking actions to investigate the ITO level and above rank officials wealth, living styles?
All revenue collection departments officials, from the peons level minting money and is an open fact and no one is scared.
Once in the Airport, it was open dacoity by the Customes officers and each and every one goes after the shift with lacs of rupees and foreigh currencies, liquers, gold and other stuffs which all seized from the passengers coming from abroad with 2 and more years of hard ships. All senior officers joined together for the stripping and finally for a name sake a fine imposed and case charged. The fine which is paid in foreign currencies in the SBI counters - in 90's- shows as received in INR - bank employees too take the privilege of stealing. These officers catch the last local train and inside the compartments get boozed and share the collections and first class compartments were almost empty then.
Excise - even today - in every industrial areas there is a rule of standard pack from every industry and the service tax dept also. They are bothered only of their pack at the end and there is no rules in any way.
Octroi - Long issues still going on as maximum stealing is the Maximum gain for the officials. Even today it continues.
Tolls - though it is computorized, but freequesnt manual receipts which is with the intention of pocketing the money.
Collectors, Village officers and talatis - all knows how to make their collections every day. Recent issues of Royalti on sad - these officials worked just for 2-3 hours every day to make 2-3 lacs and vanishes. no one knows where they go.
Trafic police - looking for mobile talkers and chase them to fine them - but this fine only goes to their pockets.
Vehicle registratio - behind the registration of each vehicle and an amount of 2000 to 20000 is reserved for RTO offices, which is shared from peon to RTO and just see how many vehicles are registered a day and how many registration offices are there in this country.
There is a power for MPS and MLAs and ministers for social reform projects. by spending 5 to 10% with the help of many social organizations, rest of the amount vanishes.
Rod works - Good roads are intentionally makes bad after 2-3 rains and later emergency reinstatement comes with unlimited aounts due to emergency and this is a common sean every streets. Watch on corporation spendings.
Go to any where where there is a revenue collection - you will be surprised and shocked to know how much cash flows to these officials every day and per hourly basis.
Once - in 90-94 - telecom booming period, then Ministers toilet and kitchen was flourished with crores of rupees and finally what happened. This minister wanted Rs.200 per telephone line and imagine, through out India howmany telephone exchanges are modified. just multiply by no. of exchanges x new lines x 200 - as well when the minister had taken 200, how much will be his other collegues.
Contract awarding commttees with every departments - telecom- electrical - civil - PW - CPWD and every where - total distribution is around 22% from peon to GM level.
ONGC - each and every one have powers minting crores for approvals and disapprovals. There are many products in approved list, but they dont have an office or factory nor productsions. just to save some elements.
EIL - each officers are having own business associates and only their brands are approved = even they don't have manufacturing units or know how.
VAT and other systems launched, but keep a watch on all shops - no bills and only cash payments. how you account this. All jewellory, textiles and fashion dressings, daily collections are in millions and hardly 10 to 20% is billed. where the rest goes.
Look at the property of jewellors and by selling gold, with the labour charges, is it possible to accummulate this wealth.
So, when you start observing all these, it will be terrible to live - so it is better, make INDIA a free country and let people live happily. Corruption is the part of gift when we became independant and with out that, life can't pull.
So, if really reforms required, please don't fear and Goverments must take actions firmly and public will extend all supports, and finally the nation can remove the black spot of currupted country.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS